Lunging V Long Lining - Your views please

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swinfen

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Is lunging as bad as some 'Intelligent Horsepeople' say it is. I find long lining difficult and stressful, and VERY time consuming. I like the idea of lunging when I haven't got time to ride, but can still give my mare some quality excercise, but then I start to feel guilty as it is supposed to the worst possible thing you can do to a horse. Don't get me wrong, long lining does have its place, but I would be grateful for your views on lunging.
 
I have no problem with lunging- it is hard work but can't see how it can be classed as the worst thing you could do to a horse
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I do prefer to long reining as I like the presicion it gives- but that is purely personal preference.
 
I think both techniques have their place - and like with everything, as long as it is not overdone. I find lungeing a bliss like you when there is less time to ride or just to do something different and yet my horse can be exercised particularly now that I am pregnant (I also have been doing long lining). Done correctly it can be very good to complement riding.
 
I regularly lunge my horses as I feel it benefits them being encouraged to stretch down and use their back without a rider on board. I either lunge in a chambon or bungee
 
supposed to put a lot of strain on the horses legs etc., but lunged on a long line i dont see how it would be a whole lot worse than circling when ridden
 
yup, basically and also the horse twisting if he if leaning on the line. But, these things don't happen provided you keep your horse on a large circle/oval until he settles and only doing a little work on smaller circles when he is soft.
I lunge regularly as it helps to keep fat cob not so fat and is a great tool for correcting problems quickly.
 
I think the problem IH people such as Monty Roberts have with lunging is if one line is used and the horse bends head and neck to the outside to balance.

If you are using something such as a correctly fitted pessoa, or two lunge lines, this does not happen.

I have found lunging weekly with the pessoa to be invaluable to help correct muscle development and to teach a big young horse to balance himself rather than trying to use my hands!
 
I lunge my gelding 4-5 times a week, alternating with being on the line with just his headcollar, with tack and side reins and free schooling, where he makes a circle round me roughly the same size as a line would let him go out anyway. I have hasd no problems, and I find it settles him [slightly] before I ride.

I f I got on him 'fresh' he would just throw a paddy and not listen to me.

Long lining is also great for my 2 but Scribbles just walks too god damn fast.
 
I use a mixture of loose schooling, though with Cairo you would not know he was not on a line as he is so good, long reining and lunging. When I lunge I use the whole school with occasional circles rather than maintaining a constant circle.

I normally use just a headcollar, and vary between using one or two reins.

With Chancer being young, he often does a bit of all three within a 20 min session, and normally two of the above.

Like everything, too much, not done correctly is potentially harmful, but done correctly and in moderation, fine.
 
It's not usually a problem with older harder horses, but longreining a 2 or 3 yo is preferable to lunging, because it avoids the uneven stresses on immature joints, and also *drives* the young horse forward purposefully, the reins working in a manner (with a roller with rings) that prepares them for the rider's aids. It's also a verrrrry useful skill to bring out of the bag when your youngster refuses to load after their first ridden show!!! (just make sure you have a lunge line and a tow-rope at least!)
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Find it hard to hold a horse on long reins when it takes off though, whereas on the lunge they tend not to get so much speed up!
 
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